First Adjustment Today
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38Illinois
- Posts: 114
- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:13 pm
- Location: Illinois, USA
First Adjustment Today
I had my first adjustment today. They put in heavier wire on top and bottom. Boy did it hurt to have the brackets opened! But, making progress.
Braces on July 31, 2010
Braces off November 1, 2011
Braces off November 1, 2011
Re: First Adjustment Today
Oh! Didn't occur to me that the brackets have to be opened! Does it happen during every adjustment or just when a thick wire replaces a thinner wire? I'm having my first adjustment next Tuesday. Hope you're feeling better now!!! 
hazel-
If you have self-ligating brackets (the kind that have doors, and don't require the elastic o-rings around them) then yes, they have to be opened in order to remove and replace the wires. For the most part, it doesn't hurt a bit; just a bit of pressure on your teeth. However, if you have a tooth that's particularly sensitive, you may feel it a bit more. It helps if the orthodontist (or assistant) puts a finger on the back of the tooth they're working on to brace it a bit.
If your brackets are like mine, with the rubber bands on them, they'll just remove the rubber bands, replace the wire, and put new bands on them. Actually, I can feel the rubber band removal a LOT more than the bracket doors opening (I have self-ligating metal on the bottom, so those have doors).
Nothing to worry about at all.
-Cathy
If you have self-ligating brackets (the kind that have doors, and don't require the elastic o-rings around them) then yes, they have to be opened in order to remove and replace the wires. For the most part, it doesn't hurt a bit; just a bit of pressure on your teeth. However, if you have a tooth that's particularly sensitive, you may feel it a bit more. It helps if the orthodontist (or assistant) puts a finger on the back of the tooth they're working on to brace it a bit.
If your brackets are like mine, with the rubber bands on them, they'll just remove the rubber bands, replace the wire, and put new bands on them. Actually, I can feel the rubber band removal a LOT more than the bracket doors opening (I have self-ligating metal on the bottom, so those have doors).
Nothing to worry about at all.
-Cathy
Congratulations on the progress!!
I have my first adjustment on Monday, and I'm scared. I have been a bit sore here and there for the last 6 weeks, but for 3 days I have a couple of teeth SCREAMING at me. I'm sure they'll still be sore on Monday, and the thought of having them touched makes me want to cry.
It's all necessary, and I can handle it, but vicodin may be involved, and my husband may have to drive. 
I have my first adjustment on Monday, and I'm scared. I have been a bit sore here and there for the last 6 weeks, but for 3 days I have a couple of teeth SCREAMING at me. I'm sure they'll still be sore on Monday, and the thought of having them touched makes me want to cry.
It's all necessary, and I can handle it, but vicodin may be involved, and my husband may have to drive. 
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blackapple
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2010 3:18 pm
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38Illinois
- Posts: 114
- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:13 pm
- Location: Illinois, USA
Catgyrl gave good advice about having the hold the tooth while opening the bracket. But, I totally disagree about it NOT hurting. My teeth have been sensitive this whole time and it hurt. I took some painkiller before hand and asked them to be gentle. With that said, it is not the worst pain.
Braces on July 31, 2010
Braces off November 1, 2011
Braces off November 1, 2011
SonyaM-
Please don't be so scared of your adjustment appointment. Adjustments really are nothing, especially in the beginning. The wire changes and/or lig changes don't hurt, and the visits are really fast. When I got my first change to a heavier wire, I was told "You're gonna have FUN tonight!!" Which, I didn't think, was in very good taste. But aside from popping a few ibuprofens, I didn't have to do anything else, and the soreness only lasted that evening. You can definitely drive on your own.
You may want to alert the orthodontist and/or the assistant of which teeth are more sore than others, so they can be a bit gentler with those. When I changed out my brackets and he was sanding off the old bonding, he told me to let him know if any teeth were particularly sensitive. I got through about 5 teeth before he hit the sore one, and my butt almost flew out of the chair. But he was as gentle as he possibly could be.
Keep smiling!!
-Cathy
Please don't be so scared of your adjustment appointment. Adjustments really are nothing, especially in the beginning. The wire changes and/or lig changes don't hurt, and the visits are really fast. When I got my first change to a heavier wire, I was told "You're gonna have FUN tonight!!" Which, I didn't think, was in very good taste. But aside from popping a few ibuprofens, I didn't have to do anything else, and the soreness only lasted that evening. You can definitely drive on your own.
You may want to alert the orthodontist and/or the assistant of which teeth are more sore than others, so they can be a bit gentler with those. When I changed out my brackets and he was sanding off the old bonding, he told me to let him know if any teeth were particularly sensitive. I got through about 5 teeth before he hit the sore one, and my butt almost flew out of the chair. But he was as gentle as he possibly could be.
Keep smiling!!
-Cathy